“That’s not an option,” Xavier said. “You’re here with us. So you’re going to be seen with us.”
“Or else what?” I asked. “Come on, Xavier. What is the point of the mask?”
“It’s just what they do. So you really can’t see who is who. At least from a distance. Everyone wears the same mask too. And we all just walk around, talk, find people we know…”
“Which defeats the purpose of the mask,” I said.
“Want to know the real story behind it?” Noah’s voice asked from behind me.
I moved away from Xavier.
Easton sat Noah down in a chair.
He was visibly drunk.
Worse than before.
“It was Edgar’s idea,” Noah said with a laugh.
“Noah, come on,” Easton said.
“Who gives a shit?” Noah asked. “She’s here with us. It doesn’t matter. It’s not some big secret.” Noah looked at me. “Edgar got some plastic surgery done and it got all fucked up. So he wore a mask. When it came time for the party, he didn’t want to feel singled out. So he made everyone wear a mask. Then the next time there was a party, he demanded the same thing. Just for the first night though. I think he closed some big deal while wearing the mask. He told everyone that without focusing on faces, it was easier to think. I don’t know. It sounds like bullshit to me.”
“You guys can do whatever you want,” I said. “I’m not wearing the mask.”
Xavier grabbed my hand and pulled at me.
He walked me to one of the windows that overlooked the tents.
Slowly his hand moved against mine and our fingers were touching. His fingers were much longer than mine. But he was doing this on purpose. Not interlocking his fingers to mine. But touching…
“Look, Winter,” he whispered.
My eyes moved down.
There was a single walkway from the house to the tents.
It was laid with flat stone, rocks on the edges, and lights along the rocks.
Workers lined each side of the pathway with drinks.
They were wearing masks.
The same mask that was on the table that Xavier had told me I had to wear.
I opened my mouth to tell him why did it matter since it was just the workers… when four people emerged from the house to the walkway.
All four were wearing the same mask.
I looked up at Xavier.
“I have no reason to lie to you,” he said.
I turned around.
Noah sat in the leather chair, his drunk eyes looking at me.
Easton stood with his arms folded.
“And you have masks too?” I asked.
“Of course we do,” Easton said.
“Can’t get through this bullshit without it,” Noah said.
I walked toward the table and lifted the mask to my face.
It was actually kind of comfortable. It wasn’t a stiff cloth or anything cheap.
It was soft and inviting.
I put the mask completely on and then stood there.
Slowly, I smiled.
This was really ironic…
Me wearing a mask.
Hiding.
Being someone else.
I had been wearing a mask of lies this entire time.
When I entered the tent, I lost my breath for a second.
From high up in the house, looking from a window, the tent didn’t seem all that big.
If I had to compare it to something… it was like a circus tent… but for people with more zeroes in their bank accounts than anyone could possibly imagine.
The stringed lights were run up and down every pole of the tent, giving enough light to be comfortable but not too bright.
There was a dull murmur of all the voices, only overshadowed by the band set up on a corner stage. Two violinists, a cellist, and a piano player were in tuxes, wearing masks, playing classical music.
“Stay close to us,” Noah said.
His words were slurred more than before.
I took a deep breath and stayed between Noah and Easton.
Everyone seemed to know the guys.
There were a lot of head nods. Quite a few handshakes.
Everyone - men and women - wore a mask.
Easton touched my hand and pointed to the far corner of the tent.
There was a table set up on a platform.
The chair behind the table looked quite literally like a king’s chair.
“That’s where Edgar sits,” Easton said to me. “Anything to do with money goes through him.”
“This is fucked up, Easton,” I said.
“It only gets better, Winter.”
We made it a few more steps before two people appeared in front of us.
Next to me, Noah chuckled. “I’m going to find a drink.”
He walked away and I grabbed for him, but he didn’t care.
I turned my head and watched as Xavier began to talk to someone else.
Two men, tall and skinny, both wearing glasses. When they spoke, they tried to cover their mouths.
My eyes scanned around and it all just felt…
“This is Winter,” Easton said.
I perked up and smiled.
“Now, who is she?” the woman asked.
“I’m, uh…”
I looked at Easton.
I had no idea what to say.
“Winter, these are my parents,” Easton said. “The great Aldrich and Caroline.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
“You have a lovely smile,” Aldrich said to me. “Where in the world would you travel if you could? A week… all paid for…”
He smiled.
I looked at his wife.
Caroline waved a hand. “He says that to everyone.”
“It’s just a question,” Aldrich said.
“We better get going here,” Easton said.
“Don’t go near the back corner,” Caroline said to Easton. “Ever. Got it?”
Before Easton could say something, his father grabbed his hand like they were going to shake hands. He pulled Easton close and I watched as something was whispered. As Aldrich spoke to Easton, he poked at Easton’s back with his pointer finger.
With force. With purpose.
It actually looked threatening.
“The masks don’t cover the eyes, dear,” Caroline said to me.
I looked at her and felt uneasy.
I could sort of see a mix of Easton in his parents faces.
Caroline had dark eyes.
“What?” I asked.
“Why exactly are you here?” Caroline asked.
“Uh… for the food,” I said with a smile.
She didn’t smile back.
I guess this wasn’t a time to joke.
“Sorry,” I said.
“There is no sorry,” Caroline said. “The only sorry is based on action. You look beautiful in the mask, Winter. But just be sure to watch your back too.”
I shivered.
Caroline stepped away and touched Aldrich’s arm.
Instantly, Aldrich released his fake hug on his son.
The two walked away and I looked at Easton.
His face was covered in rage.
Even behind the mask I could see it.
Easton looked around.
Looking for Xavier and Noah.
I touched his hand. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” he said.
“Easton!” I yelled. “I’m here because of you.”